Standards

The end goal of this howto is to produce a final audio/video file that conforms as closely as possible to the following standards:

• Video Codec: XviD (dev homepage | latest binaries)
  
  
• Resolution: 512x384 or 480x360 (previously 640x480, but switched due to quality and playback issues)
  
  
• Color: 24 bit
  
  
• Video Bitrate: Depending on the DAP you are encoding for, the target bitrate will be dependent on the target number of episodes/700 MB cd. For example, the MST3K DAP shoots for 1 92 minute episode/CD, at a video bitrate of ~900 kbps. Samurai Jack, on the other hand, shoots for 3 22 minute episodes/CD, at a video bitrate of ~1500 kbps. If you're starting a new DAP, determine what the best quality/space ratio for your particular type of source material will be, and stick to that for the run of the episodes.
  
  
• Framerate: 29.97 fps (NTSC Source) OR 25 fps (PAL Source) OR 23.976 (inverse telecined material)
  
  
• Audio Codec: MPEG1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3[Preferably LAME])
  
  
• Audio Bitrate: 128 kbps - 192 kbps (consistant within each DAP) Audio Channels: 16 Bit Stereo (If your source tape is mono however, it may make more sense to change this)
  
  
• Audio Frequency: 44.1 kHz
  
  
• Filesize: See the comments above under Video Bitrate
  
  
• Length: Whatever the full length of the original broadcast of the show is, including intros, credits, commercial bumpers, and "stingers."
  
  
• Naming: Show Name - Episode Number - Encode Date (YYYYMMDD) - Episode Name.filetype